A total of 177 students, of whom at least 50 are former cattle rustlers, have graduated from the Karamoja Zonal Industrial Hub in Abbattoir village, Lokitodad sub-county, Napak district, on January 6, 2023.
The Zonal Industrial Hub was initiated by President Yoweri Museveni with the aim of transforming lives in the Karamoja sub-region by skilling youths.
The initiative has trained beneficiaries including the former cattle rustlers in different vocational skills, including carpentry, tailoring, welding, and hairdressing, among others.
Barekye Jane, the State House Comptroller who represented the President as the chief guest in the 1st graduation ceremony, thanked President Museveni for initiating a wonderful project that has enabled the former warriors to acquire skills and also urged others to join the initiatives.
“Thank you for allowing us to be transformed into good citizens. Now you are going to serve your families and the whole country, and for stakeholder groups, don’t discriminate against former warriors. Instead, recruit them into the skilling initiatives so that they get involved in productive and money-generating activities. We decided to get every body from all walks of life, train you so you can use your hands to create jobs and make this economy very proud,” she said.
Lotiang Charles, the manager of the Karamoja Zonal Industrial Hub, said that they admitted 182 students from the 11 units, which are the districts of Abim, Amudat, Kaabong, Karenga, Kotido, Nabilatuk, Napak, Nakapiripirit, and Moroto, and the municipalities of Kotido and Moroto. Each unit was given 20 slots.
This initiative by the President enables Karamoja youths to revert to productive civilian life to attain the socio-economic transformation goal.